Automobile traffic signal



April 24, 1934. R. o. M CONAGHY AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Dec;

lfo/fo/l (ll/ 60111196 Patented Apr. 24, 1934 [TED STATES PATENT oFFicE 3 Claims.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide a signal device for motor cars which will indicate to other traffic the intended direction of movement, and to provide a very simple 'form of indicator which will be quite attractive in appearance and very simply controlled.

A further object is to provide a selectable traffic signal device of extremely simple and inexpensive construction which may be readily installed on a car.

The principal feature of the invention consists in the novel construction of a double-ended stencil associated with a selectable central illuminating means co-operating with end illuminating -means and means for limiting the dispersion of the direct rays from the central illuminating means whereby the central illuminating means is operated in combination with either of the end illuminating members to display an indicator to show the intended direction of travel.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is an elevational view of the front of the signal as appearing when illuminated.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the central plane of the signal device with the covering glass removed.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the signal casing with the stencil removed showing the lamps and reflectors.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal horizontal mid-sectional view.

Numerous forms of traffic signal devices for use on motor cars have been proposed to indicate the intended direction of travel to other trafiic and the present invention aims to greatly simplify such device, enabling it to be produced at low cost so that it may be readily installed.

In the accompanying drawing, the rectangular casing 1 has mounted on its open side a stencil plate 2 which has cut in each end thereof the representation 3 of the tail end of an arrow.

These stencil openings are connected by a narrow central strip opening l in which are preferably 5 arranged the letters T U R N.

Mounted on the inner side of the stencil plate at each end thereof are the V-shaped shield strips 5. The apex of these strips engages the apex of the V 6 of the arrow tails and the sides of the shields extend to the inward corners '7 of the tail portion.

These shield strips 5 are preferably arranged with their outward edges flush with the outer face of the stencil plate 2.

A ground glass 8 preferably covers the stencil and is held thereon by a suitable removable rim 9.

In theside of the casing opposite to the stencil plate and arranged centrally of the length thereof is secured a ferrule 10, to the inner end of 69 which is secured a reflector 11, the perimeter 12 of which is of substantially elliptical form, extending between the side walls 13 of thecasing 1 and projecting forwardly to a point close to the back of the stencil plate, or at least substantially in line with the inner edges of the shields 5.

The ferrule 10 is provided with a suitable lamp holding socket 14 for securing the double filament lamp .15 within the reflector 11.

Reflectors 16 and 17 are arranged at either end of the back wall of the casing and are secured therein in such a position as to direct the light from the lamps 18 and 19 respectively forwardly to concentrate upon the tail section 3 of the stencil though the light of each of these lamps 18 a and 19 will extend along the centre strips 4 for a substantial distance but each end light will illuminate the whole portion of the tail section 3 each side of the respective shields 5.

The electrical connection to the end lamps are each connected to a separate filament of the centre lamp so that one filament of the centre lamp will be lighted with one of the end lamps and the other filament of the centre lamp will be illuminated with the other end lamp.

This arrangement provides that when a right hand turn is to be made, as indicated in Figure l, the left-hand tail is fully illuminated and the centre light filament co-operating therewith illuminates the whole of the centre strip and the portion of the tail section 3 to the left of the .V shield intersecting same. Little or no light passes over the shield, consequently a clearly pointed arrow head is shown.

When a turn is to be made to the left, the right hand lamp is illuminated, together with the centre lamp. This illuminates the Whole of the tail section at the right side and only the head portion of the arrow at the left.

The co-operative arrangement of the lamps together with the very simple form of reflectors and shields enables a very positive indication being given in a very simple manner.

It will be understood from this description that the device is extremely simple and inexpensive, all the electrical connections are on the outside of the casing and easily reached and the device is therefore extremely simple to install.

What I claim as my invention is: I

1. An automobile traffic signal comprising a casing having a light-penetrable side representative of a horizontal double-ended arrow, a plurality of lamps in said casing, one in alignment with each head portion of the arrow and one in alignment with the shaft portion of the arrow, a reflecting shield member surrounding each of said lamps and diverging outwardly toward said light penetrable side, said shields concentrating the light of the lamps on the respective aforesaid areas of said arrow and restricting lateral distribution of the rays of the respective lamps, and means separate from said reflecting shields but co-operating therewith for further restricting lateral spread of rays from said central lamp to prevent its rays from illuminating the end extremities of the arrow.

2. An automobile traflic signal comprising a casing having a light-penetrable side, representative of a horizontal double-ended arrow, a central lamp in said casing in alignment with the shaft portion of the arrow, a shield restricting the lateral spread of light from said lamp and having its outer side terminating a spaced distance from said light penetrable side whereby a portion of the lamp rays are permitted to pass laterally, a shield member adjacent each end portion of the light-penetrable side and forming a division between the shaft and end portions of the double ended arrow and extending inwardly from said light-penetrable side in over-lapped relation to said former shield and restricting light rays not intercepted by said first-mentioned shield to prevent direct rays from the central lamp reaching the end portions of the arrow configuration beyond said end shields, and a lamp disposed at each end of the arrow to direct rays to either side of the adjacent inwardly extending shield member to illuminate only the adjacent end and shaft portions of the arrow, said central light shield acting also to restrict passage of light rays from either end lamp to the area beyond the distant end shield member.

3. An automobile tranic signal, comprising a casing, a stencil plate secured to the front of the casing and having a horizontally elongated opening therein representative of a double ended arrow, a lamp located adjacent each end portion of the stencil, a reflector baflie shield disposed adjacent one of said lamps and concentrating the rays thereof on the adjacent end portion of the double ended arrow opening, a second reflector bafiie shield disposed adjacent the other lamp and concentrating the rays thereof on the adjacent end portion of the double ended arrow remote from the aforementioned end, a central lamp adapted to illuminate the central elongated portion of the arrow opening concurrently with the lighting of either of the aforesaid lamps, a central reflector shield extending into closer relation tothe stencil than said end bafile reflector shields and limiting the lateral spread of light rays from 100 the central lamp, and a baffle shield arranged transversely of each end portion of said stencil and separating the adjacent end portion from the shaft portion of the stencil opening, said latter baffle shields being disposed beyond and in 105 offset overlapped relation to the adjacent portions of said central reflector shield and co-operating therewith to prevent direct rays from the central lamp from illuminating the end portions of the arrow beyond the said end baflie shields.

ROLPH O. MCCONAGHY. 

